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Accusations of Fraud Levelled at the Veterinary Profession Regarding Pet Food (what is happening to the veterinary profession?) An Aussie vet has been expelled from the national society that represents his profession for constantly damning processed pet food. It's a simple message that's made veterinary surgeon Dr Tom Lonsdale a crusader for pet care, a campaign he's been conducting for the past 15 years. "For good health we should feed [dogs] raw meaty bones," Dr Lonsdale declares. "Nature's right and I'm communicating nature's message." Converts to his raw pet food diet, like breeder Leah Ryan, are raving about it. "My dogs are 100 per cent more healthy, there's no doubt about it," Leah said. But Tom Lonsdale's campaign has turned his veterinary colleagues against him and recently they expelled him from the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA). The AVA's Dr Norm Blackman says … "He was saying they were poisoning the pets in society and of course these claims are quite unfounded." Dr Tom Lonsdale's warns that what you're about to hear may be upsetting if dry or tinned processed commercial pet food is what you feed your dog or cat. "There are some less bad than others but by and large if it's processed it's not suitable," Dr Lonsdale said. "The fact is the vets are selling this junk food in their surgeries … not only promoting it and recommending it, selling it." Dr Lonsdale adds it's not all vets who recommend and sell commercial pet foods, but he believes "most vets, about 90 per cent adopt this intransigent view that you must keep feeding pets out of the can or packet." But here is Dr Lonsdale's real sting … "I believe it's a corrupt system. The vet code says first of all you should consider the interests of pets but the interests of pets come way down the list of priorities for them once you get down to the nitty gritty," Dr Lonsdale said. The AVA was far from impressed. "AVA members were offended and felt as though they had been denigrated in some way," Dr Norm Blackman said. Dr Blackman says the crunch finally came when Tom Lonsdale sent an email to the Veterinary Surgeon's Board and dozens of politicians criticising vets, alleging they have loyalties to the pet food manufacturers. "He alleged vets in this country were actually involved in a consumer and scientific fraud against the community. That is simply not true," said Dr Blackman. Dr Tom Lonsdale's membership was cancelled. Back to:Pet FoodDietA to Z